Film Review: A TRAVELER’S NEEDS: Isabelle Huppert Lights Up the Screen in a Quirky and Interesting Comedy [NYFF 2024]

A Traveler’s Needs Review

A Traveler’s Needs (2024) Film Review from the 62nd Annual New York Film Festival, a movie written and directed by Hong Sang-soo and starring Isabelle Huppert, Kwon Hae-hyo, Lee Hye-young, Ha Seong-guk, Kim Seungyun and Yunhee Cho.

The incomparable Isabelle Huppert is back in a light but enjoyable comedy from South Korea, A Traveler’s Needs. Huppert is in her element playing a French teacher who we slowly learn a bit about little by little through her interaction with the women she teaches. Huppert is always fascinating to watch and, in this new picture directed by Hong Sang-soon, she gets to be her off-beat self with her usual elegance and sophistication. This film offers a glimpse inside the life of Iris, the aging woman Huppert plays, but the movie also focuses in on the culture around her and the people she associates with, including her roommate (Ha Seong-guk). This movie can feel a little slight on the surface but, eventually, it will win the viewer over with its hilarious scenes and overall positive vibes.

Iris is a little flaky when we meet her, but she seems to have a good heart. She is instructing a young woman played by Kim Seungyun when we meet her and, at a couple of intervals in this movie, Iris asks her students if they are “proud” regarding certain things that they have done in their lives. Iris is a thinking person’s character. Is she a bit manipulative or just a sincere woman trying her best to get by and to inspire others?

The opening scenes of the movie suggest Iris could be hiding something as she interacts with her client in such a way that she seems lacking in terms of her teaching skills. This possibility extends into the scenes with another client (a strong Lee Hye-young) and her husband (the reliable Kwon Hae-hyo). In the interaction with the second client, it is pointed out that Iris’ teaching methods seem a bit unconventional but Iris is new at teaching in her current town of residence so that could clarify some of her minor blunders. Hye-young and Hae-hyo perfectly convey the husband and wife and it’s a delight to watch their few scenes together with Huppert.

Iris has odd habits like taking her shoes off to stand in some water or wandering off for hours when her roommate’s mom shows up unexpectedly. She seems too good to be true at times while it feels like she’s hiding a big secret in other scenes. Iris gives her roommate a portion of the rent which is the money she’s earned from her teaching French. She’s not looking to freeload but rather to pay her way…only she’s doing it at her own pace. She’s lucky to have a kind roommate and the interaction between Huppert and Seong-guk feels earnest in nature throughout the latter scenes in the picture.

At one moment, Iris is asked to read a poem in French by a woman who is sitting near her. Iris struggles with some of the words she’s translating. One word is just a type of bird despite its seeming complexity. Huppert is wonderful as her character uses her language to get by and to interact with others as well as to make money. Huppert could have improvised a few of the scenes here but they feel genuine because of Huppert’s tremendous screen presence. Every minute watching her is time not wasted.

A Traveler’s Needs asks us to consider whether Iris is a con-artist because her roommate’s mom suggests that there is a lot of history that Iris must carry with her. She may be a bit deceptive to get her foot in the door but once she makes it through, she’s quite sincere and one can have faith she’s doing the right thing because of the charm Huppert brings to the role.

There isn’t a lot happening in A Traveler’s Needs beyond presenting a basic slice-of-life but the movie works. The whole cast interacts well together. Kim Seungyun shines in the opening minutes of the film as Iris takes their interaction far beyond that of a typical teacher and student. Huppert plays Iris as the quintessential eccentric French teacher who challenges her clients a bit beyond the simple notions of translating words.

In the end, A Traveler’s Needs is short and sweet. There are no big revelations but there’s just enough to keep the movie feeling important. It’s rare to see a film as innocent as this one even if some characters within seem to think Iris may be a bit less than perfect. Iris and Huppert, the actress who plays her, are like fine wine and the actress conveys the essence of her character in a way only the legendary actress, herself, could. A Traveler’s Needs will put a smile on your face for an hour and a half and, surprisingly, that’s more than enough.

Rating: 7.5/10

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